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You have an impeccable
academic record with straight distinctions right through school and
college. However, when it comes to securing a job in your chosen
profession, you turn squeamish and get butterflies in your stomach. Your
track record at interviews is often nowhere near your academic one.
Is there any way to prepare for an interview? Are there things you could
do that would thwart that nervousness
and help you perform better?
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Be Prepared
Preparation is essential to mitigate nervousness, however the
jitters to some degree, are essential to enable you to give off your best.
You need to have the adrenaline pumping through your veins to perform to
the best of your ability. If you weren’t worried at all, you might end up
treating the whole interview process too casually, only to your own
disadvantage.
Here’s what you should be doing to groom for an interview.
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- For starters, brush up the basics in your particular field of study.
Someone who cannot answer the basic questions in his or her area of
specialization is unlikely to stand a chance.
- Keep abreast of the daily news. If you are applying for a management
position you need to keep abreast of development sin your area of
specialization.
- - Make it a point to read national dailies and monthlies on economic
issue, which will help you, identify, analyze and be incisive in financial
decisions. Regular general reading will enable you to answer basic general
knowledge questions. Remember that general knowledge cannot be developed
overnight. It is developed over a period of years.
Be a Nosy Parker Having received an interview call from the company, gather as much
information as you can about it – its capital base, its assets,
liabilities, work culture, hierarchical structure, etc. You could befriend
some of the employees, either past or present, to build up your
information base.
Check out the businesses the company is engaged in. You don’t want to
appear blank when asked about the nature of business of the company. Your
display of knowledge is this area will only show how interested you are in
securing the job. Such information is absolutely essential if you are in
the management cadre. If you are in marketing, find out ore details about
products and TV campaigns.
It is a good idea to start gathering such information soon after sending
in your resume. Don’t wait till the interview call; sometimes, candidates
are called in at very short notice.
Plan Your Moves The day before the interview. Set aside time to prepare yourself for it.
If you are already employed, plan out how you will take leave for the
interviews. Decide in advance what excuse you are going to give your boss.
If possible, take half a day off, instead of the whole day. This is
particularly important if you are appearing for a number of interviews.
You are unlikely to be granted many days off if the situation demands. A
cardinal rule; don’t tell anyone at your place of work that you are
attending an interview.
Keep your documents ready – arranged chronologically in a folder. It is
advisable to carry your SSC, HSC and graduation or post-graduation
certificates. Carry along a copy of your curriculum vitae.
Go through your resume. Decide the answers you are going to give, based on
the information given in it. Prepare your answers to basic questions like
– tell me something abut yourself? Why do you want this job? Why do you
want to leave your current job? Where do you see yourself five years from
now? What are your hobbies and interests?
Do find out how to get to the interview location. Plan how you are going
to get there. Find out how long it will take tog et there. Punctuality is
an absolute must! You can’ afford to keep the interviewer waiting. If
there are others lined up too, you may miss your turn altogether.
Spruce Up Your Looks Take care while selecting the clothes you plan to wear for the interview.
It is advisable to be neatly and formally dressed with a minimum amount of
make-up. Keep your fancy clothes and accessories for another occasion.
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Get to bed early the night before the interview, even if you anticipate
spending a sleepless night.
Eat a good breakfast before setting out for the interview. Get ready, well
in advance. Rushing about will only aggravate your attack of nerves. Spend
a few moments of glancing through your résumé and revising answers to
basic questions.
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Be alert and keep your head on your shoulders. Remember that you can never
be totally prepared for an interview. There will always be questions that
you have not anticipated or though of before. Answer as best as you can.
Be truthful, especially regarding your academic and work achievements. If
you are not, you are likely to get caught out at some stage
If you don’t’ fare too well or don’t get the job, don’t lose heart. There
are many other options available for you. Don’t treat an interview as the
end of your life; treat each one with the degree of seriousness tide
serves, no less and no more. Al this will go towards helping you be a
confident interviewee.
Contributing Writer: Maria Peres I have
a Certificate of Competence from the Writers Bureau and have published
articles in The Education Times and a couple of magazines for women. I
have over 15 years of experience as a Marketing professional and have
worked in the FMCG sector, in Market Research and in the Development
sector in India.
peres_maria@yahoo.com
Contribute Resume Writing / Cover Letter / Interview Tips
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